It’s time to say it out loud: Let’s Make Franchising Great Again.
Not with a slogan slapped on a cap or a catchy soundbite — but with a renewed commitment to what franchising was always meant to be: a powerful partnership between people with shared purpose.
Franchising is not just a business model. It’s a relationship. And like any strong relationship, it only thrives when both parties — franchisors and franchisees — are respected, supported, and invested in each other’s success.
The Franchisee: The Beating Heart of the Brand
Too often, franchisees are seen as simply license holders. But any seasoned franchisor knows the truth: without dedicated franchisees, there is no business to scale.
Think about it.
- Brand Recognition? That’s built one store, one customer interaction, one local reputation at a time — by franchisees.
- Buying Power? It’s the collective volume of committed franchisees that gives the brand leverage with suppliers.
- Customer Satisfaction? That happens when a franchisee goes the extra mile to make a regular feel like family or handle a complaint with care.
- Revenue Growth? That’s driven by motivated operators putting their skin in the game every day to make the business work.
Franchisees don’t just invest money. They invest time, energy, and often their family’s future into the business. They hire local staff. They sponsor local events. They wear the brand on their sleeves and in their hearts.
And when things get tough — as they inevitably do — it’s the great franchisees who find a way through with creativity, resilience, and grit.
Franchisors: Let’s Honour That
If we’re serious about making franchising great again, franchisors must lead the charge by restoring honour to the franchisee-franchisor relationship.
This means:
- Creating systems that support, not control. Empower franchisees with tools, not red tape.
- Listening, not just instructing. The field is full of insights — the people closest to the customer are often the ones with the best ideas.
- Investing in franchisee success. Training, marketing support, operational assistance — these aren’t optional extras. They’re the foundation.
- Recognising contribution. Celebrate the top performers, yes. But also acknowledge the steady, dependable franchisees who quietly uphold the brand every single day.
- Fostering collaboration. True scale happens when franchisees and franchisors are rowing in the same direction — with aligned values, shared goals, and mutual respect.
The Future of Franchising Is Relationship-Driven
Let’s not forget: a franchise system is only as strong as its weakest relationship.
If franchisees feel like mere cogs in a machine, they disengage. And when they disengage, brands suffer — reputation slips, customer service falters, and growth grinds to a halt.
But when franchisees feel seen, supported, and valued? That’s when magic happens.
That’s when the system becomes more than the sum of its parts.
That’s when we unlock true scaling potential, create genuine brand ambassadors, and delight customers at every touchpoint.
So here’s the call to action:
Let’s Make Franchising Great Again — by putting people at the centre. By treating franchisees not as subordinates, but as the essential partners they truly are.
Because when franchisors and franchisees succeed together — that’s when brands become iconic.